What is Dark patterns?
Also called: Deceptive design
The short answer
Dark patterns are design tricks that push people into choices they did not intend, like hidden fees, fake countdowns, confusing opt-outs or hard-to-cancel subscriptions.
Dark patterns, explained
They can lift a number briefly and cost trust permanently. Regulators increasingly treat them as unfair practices.
Questions people ask about Dark patterns
What is Dark patterns?
Dark patterns are design tricks that push people into choices they did not intend, like hidden fees, fake countdowns, confusing opt-outs or hard-to-cancel subscriptions.
Related terms
UX, or user experience, is how it feels to use a website: whether people can find what they came for, understand it and finish what they started without friction.
Social proofSocial proof is evidence that other people use and trust a product, such as reviews, client logos, case studies and counts, used to reduce a visitor's doubt.
Cookie consentCookie consent is asking visitors' permission before setting non-essential cookies, such as analytics and advertising trackers, as privacy laws require in many regions.
UIUI, or user interface, is the visible, clickable surface of a website: buttons, type, colour, spacing, icons and the states each element shows.
Part of the Web Encyclopedia by Apex Flow Digital. Definitions are general knowledge, kept current, with no invented statistics.